Why kicker Jaffer Murphy with 4.47 40 time hasn't signed an NFL contract after draft

Why kicker Jaffer Murphy with 4.47 40 time hasn't signed an NFL contract after draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A lot of hype was made before the 2026 NFL Draft about Jaffer Murphy.

He's a kicker from UTSA (Texas-San Antonio) with incredible athleticism, including a 4.47-second 40-yard dash time.

Murphy was pretty much an unknown until he put up big numbers at his Pro Day.

But despite that, he has yet to sign an NFL contract.

Maybe for some the math doesn't add up here, but it's actually quite straightforward.

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Why hasn't Jaffer Murphy signed an NFL contract?

Murphy isn't actually a highly regarded kicker.

Yes, in uncontested, scripted opportunities at his Pro Day, he made a lot of kicks.

And yes, he can run quite fast for a kicker.

But Murphy's actual kicking ability only earned him a single field goal attempt in his college career (which he did make).

NFL teams don't need a kicker who can run fast. They need one who can reliably make kicks under pressure over and over.